Transition from children’s to adults’ services

This quality standard covers the period before, during and after a young person moves from children’s to adults’ services in all settings where transitions from children’s to adults’ health or social care services take place. It covers all young people (aged up to 25) using children’s health and social care services who are due to make the transition to adults’ services. This includes young people with mental health problems, disabilities and long-term, life-limiting or complex needs, rare diseases and those in secure settings or under the care of local authorities. It describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement.

Last reviewed: 14 December 2023

This quality standard was updated following stakeholder feedback. For more information, see update information.

How to use NICE quality standards and how we develop them

Quality standards help you improve the quality of care you provide or commission. They apply in England and Wales (see the UK government website and Welsh government website). Decisions on how they apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland are made by ministers in the Scottish government and Northern Ireland Executive.

Find out how to use quality standards and how we develop them.